Planning system and method for coordinating road milling tasks

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a planning system and method for operating one or more road milling machines. In that context, material properties of a road are captured and are geographically associated with one or more roads or road segments. Based on the material properties, an expected milling output of a road milling machine is ascertained, in the context of carrying out milling tasks on the road, or an expected wear on the milling tools. An optimized sequence of milling tasks to be carried out is created on the basis of those data. Accordingly, the invention may enable optimized deployment of the one or more road milling machines and of resources necessary for carrying out the road milling tasks. Aspects of the planning system may be remotely implemented for centralized application with respect to each of the road milling machines, or locally implemented for individual road milling machines.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of German patent application 10 2016 102568.2, filed Feb. 15, 2016, and which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Road milling machines with which one, several, or all layers of a roadcan be removed by milling, are used nowadays to remove traffic surfaces,for example roads, road segments, or parking lots. The milling outputachievable with a respective road milling machine, for example themilling area achievable per unit time or the milling volume achievableper unit time, depends greatly on the material properties of the trafficsurface to be processed. The wear on the milling tools is alsoinfluenced directly by the material properties of the road or roadsegment. These relationships make it difficult to plan machinedeployment for pending road milling tasks. The result can be that moreresources than necessary, in terms of time, machinery, or materials, areprovided for a road milling task, leading to elevated costs.Insufficient resources can likewise be allocated, which can result indelays. This becomes negatively evident in particular in a context ofsuccessively scheduled milling tasks, and can result in largeconsequential losses, for example if subsequent processing steps cannotbe executed or are executed late.

The document DE 10 2013 112 972 A1 discloses a method for wear prognosisfor an earth working machine, in particular a road milling machine. Herethe current wear state of a bit or a bit holder is captured, and aresidual wear capacity is ascertained from the current wear state. Fromthat capacity, the remaining working output until the tools have reachedtheir wear limit, for example in the form of a mass still millable, or amilling volume, or a remaining work time, can be ascertained. Thematerial properties of the substrate to be processed can also beconsidered in determining the remaining working output. Those propertiescan be deduced, for example, by taking samples or on the basis ofmachine parameters of the earth working machine which are established inthe context of milling.

US 2015/0197253 A1 discloses a system that, in the context of processingof a ground surface, for example a road, with an earth working machine,ascertains the quality of a working step in positionally resolvedfashion and displays it graphically. The quality of a processed roadsegment can be ascertained and evaluated using suitable sensors on theroad construction machine and by comparison with specified values. Thepositionally resolved graphic depiction allows an operator of the roadconstruction machine to rework individual road segments in targetedfashion. Ground irregularities caused by “jumps” of the earth workingmachine can represent, for example, a quality feature.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to furnish a method, a control device, anda computer program product that enable optimized deployment of roadmilling machines and of the resources necessary for carrying out roadmilling tasks.

An object of the invention is achieved by a method for operating one ormore road milling machines, encompassing at least the following steps:

-   -   determining and/or reading in material properties of roads        and/or road segments, and/or characteristic values correlating        with the material properties;    -   associating the material properties and/or the characteristic        values with respectively pertinent road designations and/or        designations of road segments and/or geographic coordinates;    -   specifying at least two roads and/or road segments to be        processed by milling;    -   ascertaining at least one expected milling output of the road        milling machine for the roads and/or road segments to be        processed, based on the material properties and/or        characteristic values determined for the roads or road segments;    -   ascertaining and displaying a sequence, optimized at least with        regard to milling output, of the road milling tasks that are to        be carried out.

For purposes of the invention, the terms “road” and “road segment”encompass any forms of paved traffic routes and traffic surfaces, i.e.including parking lots, sidewalks, bicycle paths, or the like.

With suitably selected machine parameters of the road milling machine,the achievable milling output of a road milling machine is definedsubstantially by the material properties of the road or road segment tobe removed. If the material properties of the road or road segment areknown, or if the characteristic values that correlate with thosematerial properties are known, it is thus possible to arrive at aforecast of the achievable milling output. This forecast is valid forsuitably selected machine parameters. If the milling output is known,exact planning of pending milling tasks can be accomplished. Inparticular, the sequence of different milling segments within aconstruction site, or the sequence of different road milling tasks atdifferent construction sites, can be optimally specified. Optimizationpreferably can be accomplished with regard to a required working timeand/or the required resources. It is furthermore possible to mutuallycoordinate the deployment of multiple road milling machines.

The method thus enables optimum operation of one or more road millingmachines with regard to their working output and the resources needed inorder to operate them. Total costs, in particular for carrying outseveral successive milling tasks, can thereby be appreciably reduced.

According to one embodiment of the invention, provision can be made thata working time span and/or an operating supplies consumption and/or awear on at least one tool of the road milling machine and/or a quantityof required consumable parts and/or a quantity of required operatingsupplies and/or a quantity of required operating auxiliaries forcarrying out a specified road milling task is determined on the basis ofthe material properties and/or characteristic values associated with aroad or road segment to be processed, and is displayed, and/or is takeninto consideration in ascertaining the sequence of the road millingtasks to be carried out. In particular, given a known working time span,two or more milling tasks to be carried out can be optimally coordinatedwith one another in terms of their execution. In addition, simultaneousdeployment of several road milling machines can be coordinated.Cost-intensive road milling machine downtimes and waiting times canthereby be very largely avoided. If the wear on the milling tools isknown, pending milling tasks can be scheduled in such a way that, forexample, necessary tool changes occur at road milling machine downtimesthat are necessary in any case, for example after completion of amilling task.

Regardless of the method selected for determining the characteristicvalues correlating with the material properties, provision can be madethat the material properties for a road or road segment are determinedfrom the characteristic values. Based on the material properties, forany road milling machine it is then possible to make a forecast, matchedto its properties, for the milling output, the wear on the millingtools, and the required consumption of material and resources.

The milling output of a road milling machine, the wear on its millingtools, and the required material resources and consumable resources canbe forecast with sufficient accuracy, for example, if an abrasivenessand/or a hardness and/or a material type and/or a material compositionand/or a temperature and/or a layer structure of the road or roadsegment is determined as a material property.

The milling output of the road milling machine, the wear on its millingtools, and the required material resources and consumable resources canfurthermore be accurately forecast by the fact that at least one machineparameter of a road milling machine which is obtained for execution of amilling task to be planned is determined as a characteristic valuecorrelating with the material properties.

For determination of the material properties provision can be made, forexample, that during a first milling process that is carried out withina working sector to be processed, a milling depth and/or an advance ofthe road milling machine and/or a milling drum rotation speed of amilling drum of the road milling machine and/or a torque transferred tothe milling drum and/or a drive power transferred to the milling drum oran operating supplies consumption is determined as a machine parameter.For a specified milling depth, a specified advance, and a specifiedmilling drum rotation speed, for example, a necessary torque to betransferred to the milling drum will result as a function of theexisting material properties of the road or road segment to be milled. Ahigher torque will be required for a harder road than for a softer road.The material properties of the road or road segment can thus be inferredbased on the machine parameters or combination of those machineparameters that are set and that result. The machine parameters or thematerial properties derived therefrom can be ascertained, for example,during a first milling process on a road or road segment. Based on thematerial properties, or the machine parameters constitutingcharacteristic values correlating with the material properties, that arethereby obtained, a forecast can then be created for the milling output,the wear on the milling tools, or the required utilization of materialsand resources for a further milling deployment in the working sectorwithin which the material properties can be assumed to be identical orsimilar to those in the segment already milled. For example, in the caseof a multi-lane roadway it is usual firstly to mill off one lane and toprocess the additional lanes later. It can be assumed, for the lanes yetto be processed, that the material properties are the same as thoseascertained based on the machine parameters upon milling of the lanealready processed. The previously ascertained machine parameters, andthe material properties derived therefrom, can therefore be used for theprocess of planning work on the remaining lanes.

The accuracy of the determination of material properties from themachine parameters of a road milling machine in the context of apreviously executed milling procedure in the work sector to be plannedcan be improved by taking into consideration, in determining thematerial properties from the machine parameters, a wear that hasoccurred on at least one tool of the road milling machine in the contextof milling a specific area. By evaluating the machine parameters and thewear together, it is possible to infer with high accuracy the materialproperties of the substrate being processed.

According to a variant embodiment of the invention, provision can bemade that position data of a road milling machine are captured and areassociated with the determined material properties and/or characteristicvalues. For example, during a milling process on a road segment, thematerial properties or the characteristic values can be associatedunequivocally and, for example, automatically with the pertinentposition data. The material properties or characteristic values therebyobtained can then be used for further construction site planning in therespective working sector. During a planning process, the pertinentmaterial properties and characteristic values for the road or roadsegment on which the road milling machine has already worked can beretrieved on the basis of the position data of the road milling machine.The forecast of the milling output, wear, or material and resourceconsumption can then be made based respectively on those materialproperties or characteristic values. A procedure of this kind isadvantageous, for example, in the context of a decentrally arrangedplanning system, in which planning of a milling task to be carried outis accomplished directly on site at at least one of the road millingmachines that is provided.

It is furthermore conceivable for the material properties and/or thecharacteristic values correlating with the material properties to bedetermined from the process of installing the road or road segment.Based on the machines, materials, and process parameters used when theroad or road segment was installed, the material properties required fora subsequent milling process can be ascertained and stored inpositionally resolved fashion or for a specified working sector. Thosematerial properties, or ones derived therefrom, can then be returned towhen the road or road segment is subsequently removed by milling. It isparticularly advantageous in this context that a separate determinationof the material properties of a road or road segment to be processeddoes not need to be made prior to planning of a milling task that is tobe carried out.

In accordance with a possible variant embodiment of the invention,provision can be made that measured data ascertained with a measurementsystem are determined as characteristic values correlating with thematerial properties. The measurement system can determine, for example,the hardness of a road surface or the layer structure of a road. It islikewise conceivable to carry out suitable measurements on drill coresof previously executed test holes. The measured data can then beassociated with the pertinent road, the pertinent road segment, or apertinent sector. The measured data can directly represent the necessarymaterial properties, or the material properties can be ascertained fromthe measured data.

In accordance with another variant embodiment of the invention,provision can be made that transport times of the road milling machinebetween the roads and/or road segments to be processed, and/ormaintenance intervals of the road milling machine, are taken intoconsideration in the specification of the sequence of road millingtasks. This measure allows downtimes of the road milling machine to beavoided or at least reduced, with the result that total costs for themilling tasks to be carried out can be lowered.

Optimized construction site planning can be achieved by the fact that amilled area and/or a milled volume and/or a milled mass and/or a milleddistance, referred in each case to a time unit, is determined as amilling output. The necessary work quantity, for example in the form ofan area to be milled, a volume to be milled, a mass to be milled, or adistance to be milled, is known in the context of planning a millingproject. Once the milling output is ascertained based on the materialproperties of the road or road segment, then, for example, the time spanfor carrying out the milling project can be determined based on the workquantity and the milling output. Necessary downtimes of the road millingmachine can be taken into consideration in this context. For a knownwear on the milling tools, e.g. referred to a work quantity or adeployment time, it is possible, for example, to forecast andcorrespondingly take into consideration necessary road milling machinedowntimes for replacement of the milling tools. The sequence of millingtasks to be carried out in succession, including using several roadmilling machines, can thereby be optimally coordinated. It is alsoconceivable to capture and store the work quantity for processing a roador road segment in the context of the method, so that it can be returnedto during the planning phase. For example, the work quantity can alreadybe captured and stored during installation of a road or road segment.

An object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a planning systemfor coordinating road milling tasks for one or more road millingmachines, the planning system comprising a memory networked with inputand output units associated with the one or more road milling machines,and a medium having a computer program product stored thereon, theprogram product executable by a computer to carry out theabove-described method.

In an embodiment, the computer program product can be loaded directlyinto the internal memory of a digital computer.

In an embodiment, the computer program product can be stored on a mediumthat is insertable into a computer.

In an embodiment, the computer can be integrated into a control deviceor can be part of the control device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view depicting a road milling machine;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic depiction of an example of a structureof a road;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block depiction of a planning system for planningroad milling tasks;

FIG. 4 is a block depiction of individual method steps during a planningphase; and

FIG. 5 is a block depiction of individual method steps during a datacapture phase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view depicting a road milling machine 10. Amachine frame 12 is carried, vertically adjustably via four liftingcolumns 16.1, 16.2, by propelling units 11.1, 11.2, for example trackedpropelling units. Road milling machine 10 can be operated from a controlstand 13 via a control system 17 arranged in control stand 13. A millingdrum 15 (arranged in concealed fashion and depicted with dashed lines)is rotatably mounted in a milling drum box that is likewise arranged inconcealed fashion. A conveying device 14 serves to transport away themilled material.

During use, road milling machine 10 is moved, at an advance speedentered via control system 17, over the substrate to be processed. Inthat context, milling tools (not depicted) arranged on the rotatingmilling drum 15 remove road 20 whose structure is shown in FIG. 2. Themilling tools are configured as a rule as bits, preferably round-shankbits, that are installed replaceably in bit holders. Bit holder changingsystems, in which the bit holders are replaceably mounted in base parts,are known and are usable in the context of the invention. The base partsare mounted on the surface of the milling drum, for example weldedthereonto. The arrangement of the milling tools and bit holders can besuch that one or more cutting helices are produced on the surface of themilling drum. The cutting helices result in a more sequential cuttingengagement of the milling tools. The cutting helices can furthermorealso perform a clearing and loading function, the removed milledmaterial being transported along the surface of milling drum 15 to anejection position. Milling drum 15 is driven by a motor via a driveunit. The vertical position and rotation speed of milling drum 15 can beadjusted from control system 17. The milling depth is adjusted by way ofthe vertical position of milling drum 15. The vertical position ofmilling drum 15 relative to the surface to be processed can be adjustedrelative to the machine frame via the vertically adjustable liftingcolumns 16.1, 16.2 or via a separate vertical adjustment system,depending on the type of machine. The advance speed and the millingdepth ultimately determine the working output of road milling machine10, i.e. for example a distance or area or mass removed per unit time,or a removed volume.

The working output achievable with a road milling machine 10, and thewear on the milling tools, depend greatly on the material properties ofroad 20 that is to be removed, for example on its hardness orabrasiveness. This complicates construction site planning with regard tothe achievable milling output and thus the required working time, andthe expected wear on the milling tools. Mutual coordination of millingtasks to be carried out successively is thus insufficient, which resultsin delays or in undesired downtimes of road milling machine 10. Thequantity of materials required for the operation of road milling machine10, for example consumable parts, operating supplies, or operatingauxiliaries, cannot be forecast with sufficient accuracy. In the onecase this can cause too much material to be delivered to a constructionsite, which is accompanied by correspondingly elevated costs. In theother case, undesired delays can occur due to insufficient availabilityof materials.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic depiction of an example of a structureof a road 20. Starting from a road bed 26, a freeze protection layer 25and a gravel base layer 24 are provided. Built thereon are an asphaltbase layer 23, a binder layer 22, and a surface course 21, whichconstitutes road surface 20.1. Depending on the milling work to beperformed, one or more of these layers are removed with the aid of roadmilling machine 10.

The material properties of road 20 which are relevant in terms ofmilling result from the materials used, the conditions and processparameters upon installation of road 20, and the thicknesses of theindividual layers. The material properties can also depend on prevailingambient conditions, for example the ambient temperature. Relevantmaterial properties can be an abrasiveness or hardness of road 20. Theseare determined by the material type, a material composition, atemperature, and/or a layer structure of road 20.

The material properties of a road structure are usually consistent overa large region. Asphalt mixtures that are as uniform as possible inquality are used, for example, upon installation of a new roadwaysurface. Installation is preferably accomplished in one working step, asis obligatorily necessary, for example, in the case of open-pore asphalt(OPA). A road structure thus exhibits for the most part relativelyconstant material properties within specific sectors, for example withinan expressway segment or within a region defined by geographiccoordinates. It is thus possible to associate material properties with alocation or with a spatially delimited sector. The location or sectorcan preferably be defined by a road designation, a designation of a roadsegment, or by geographic coordinates. If the material properties for aroad 20 are known, then according to the present invention it ispossible to create, for future milling tasks on road 20, a prognosis ofthe working outputs of a road milling machine 10 and/or the wear on themilling tools that can be expected. These values can be taken intoconsideration in planning a future construction site or sites. It isthereby possible to ascertain, from the expected working output, thetime required for carrying out a milling task. When the wear on themilling tools is known, the spare parts necessary for them can bedetermined. The operating supplies and auxiliaries that are required canlikewise be ascertained. With knowledge of this data, according to thepresent invention a sequence of different milling tasks that are to becarried out can be ascertained and specified in optimized fashion so asto result in a minimum total outlay in terms of time and materials.Transport times for the road milling machine between variousconstruction sites are preferably also taken into consideration.Required downtimes of road milling machine 10, for example formaintenance work that needs to be performed, can advantageously also beincorporated into construction site planning. Optimized deploymentplanning for one or more road milling machines 10 is thereby madepossible.

Thanks to deployment planning optimized in this fashion, total costs forthe milling tasks to be carried out can be appreciably reduced due toreduced downtimes of road milling machine or machines 10 as well asdecreased material, storage, and transport costs.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block depiction of a possible variant embodimentof a planning system 30 for planning road milling tasks. An electronicmemory 31, and a computation unit 32 connected to memory 31, areassociated with planning system 30. An input unit 34 and an output unit33 are also connected to planning system 30. Planning system 30comprises an interface 30.1 for transferring, for example,characteristic values 40 correlating with the material properties of aroad 20. Interface 30.1 is designed in the present case as a radiointerface. It can also be embodied, however, as a wire-based interface,for example in the form of a USB interface; or different types ofinterface 30.1 can be provided. Installation data 41 from theinstallation process of a road 20, measured and experimental data 42 forascertaining material properties of a road 20, and/or milling data 43 ofa road milling machine 10 in the context of removal of a road 20, can beread into planning system 30 via interface 30.1 as characteristic values40 correlating with the material properties. Position data 80 can alsobe transferred, or material properties of a road 20 can be transferreddirectly, via interface 30.1 to planning system 30. Further data canpreferably also be transferred via interface 30.1 to planning system 30,or outputted from planning system 30. Alternatively thereto, theaforesaid data or portions of the data (e.g. material properties,characteristic values 40, position data 80) can also be inputted viainput unit 34 into planning system 30 or outputted via output unit 33.The data are stored in electronic memory 31 and managed, for example,via a database system. The pertinent position values 80 are associatedwith the material properties and/or characteristic values 40. Positionvalues 80 are preferably indicated in the form of spatially delimitedgeographic coordinates or road designations or designations of roadsegments, i.e. as defined and spatially delimited working sectors. Thematerial properties, or the characteristic values correlating therewith,can be saved simultaneously with, or with a time offset from, thepertinent position data 80.

Computation unit 32 can be configured to ascertain characteristic values40, or the material properties directly, from installation data 41,measured data 42, and/or milling data 43.

Preferably the material properties of a road 20 are already captured asinstallation data (41) in the process of installing the road. The layerstructure and the material composition are known in the context of theinstallation process, and the material properties can be deducedtherefrom.

Road milling machines 10 can remove only a portion of a road surface,for example a single lane on an expressway. In some circumstances theyalso do not mill the entire length of the area to be processed in oneworking step. It may therefore happen that at a first point in timefirstly a portion of an existing roadway is removed, and work at thatsite is not continued until a later point in time. The materialproperties of road 20 can be manually or automatically ascertainedduring the milling tasks carried out at the first point in time. Forexample, the material properties can be derived from milling data 43ascertained during the milling process, for example machine parameters74 of road milling machine 10. The material properties therebyascertained can then be used to plan the remaining milling tasks. Theprognosis, for example for the future milling output or expected wear,is made within a limited working sector in which consistent materialproperties of road 20 or roads 20, or of the road segments, that are tobe milled can be assumed.

The working sectors can advantageously be defined and retrieveddescriptively. A road designation or a designation of a road segment ispreferably used for this, for example an expressway designation within aregion delimited by a mileage indication.

During capture of the material properties or of characteristic values 40correlating therewith, an operator can manually capture the pertinentworking sector and store it in planning system 30. Alternativelythereto, a machine position, for example of a road construction machineupon installation of a road 20 or of a road milling machine 10 uponremoval of a road, can be captured together with the material propertiesor characteristic values 40 obtained in that context. An operator canthen define and input a working sector, around the machine position, forwhich the material properties or characteristic values are relevant. Forthe installation process, the exact position data of the installedmaterial, and/or the pertinent process parameters, can advantageously becaptured and stored in positionally resolved fashion. Here as well, theposition data can be captured manually or automatically and transferredto planning system 30.

Planning system 30, or parts of planning system 30, advantageously arearranged centrally. Planning system 30 can thereby be used by differentusers and/or for the planning of different construction sites. Acentrally arranged planning system 30 is advantageously networked withdecentrally provided input and output units 34, 33. From these, planningsystem 30 can be accessed and the respective data capture (materialproperties, characteristic values 40, working sectors) or constructionsite planning can be carried out. Input and output units 34, 33 can bearranged for that purpose, for example, on corresponding road millingmachines 10. It is also possible for only memory 31, and if applicable adatabase function, to be arranged centrally, and for computation units32 as well as input and output units 33, 34 to be provided decentrally.The central or partly central arrangement of planning system 30 isadvantageous in that the current data inventory exists uniformly for allusers of planning system 30. Alternatively thereto, provision can bemade that planning system 30 is arranged decentrally, for example on therespective road milling machines 10. Advantageously, the decentrallyarranged planning systems 30 are networked or networkable with oneanother, so that the data stored in memory 31 can be exchanged.

The material properties can be stored directly in memory 31 for theindividual working sectors. Alternatively, however, unprocessed datafrom the installation process, from a measurement process, and/or from amilling process can also be stored. The unprocessed data constitutecharacteristic values 40 correlating with the material properties. Fromthese values the respective material properties can preferably bedetermined by computation unit 32 and used for the planning process.Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable for the unprocessed data(characteristic values 40) to be used directly for the planning process.For example, machine parameters 74 ascertained during a milling process,or the milling output of a road milling machine 10 produced during aworking process, can be stored as characteristic values 40. Thosemachine parameters 74 can then be used for a planning process in thesame working sector. Advantageously, the material properties thereforedo not need to be ascertained from machine parameters 74. Machineparameters 74 are preferably used for planning processes for roadmilling machines 10 of the same type as road milling machine 10 withwhich machine parameters 74 were ascertained. Also conceivable, however,is a transfer to road milling machines 10 of another type; here thediffering output data of road milling machines 10 need to be taken intoconsideration.

Positional association of the captured material properties orcharacteristic values 40 can be accomplished automatically upon captureof the data, for example with a GPS system. Alternatively thereto, thecaptured material properties or characteristic values 40 can also beassociated with manually determined working regions. This can occurimmediately during capture, or with a separation in time therefrom. Forexample, it is possible to capture and store the installation dataduring installation of a road. The data can then be transferred toplanning system 30, for example by data telecommunication or by means ofa mobile data medium, and stored in memory 31. Association of thepertinent working sector can then be carried out subsequently atplanning system 30.

FIG. 4 is a block depiction, in the form of a flow chart 50, of onepossible embodiment of individual method steps during a planning phaseof road milling tasks that are to be carried out. Associated with flowchart 50 are, in sequence, a first block 51, a second block 52, and athird block 53. Third block 53 is connected to a fourth block 54, afifth block 55, a sixth block 56, and seventh block 57.

In first block 51, a selection of the intended working location is made.This can be done, for example, by inputting a working sector intoplanning system 30 by means of input unit 34 shown in FIG. 3. Theworking sector can be characterized by spatially delimited geographiccoordinates or by a unique designation of a road 20 or road segment. Insecond block 52, the material properties for the working sector arerequested from memory 31. Planning system 30 preferably has for thatpurpose a suitable database for managing the stored data. Based on thosematerial properties, in third block 53 planning system 30 creates, forthe working sector specified in first block 51, a prognosis for theexpected working outputs and required materials. In the exemplifyingembodiment shown, an expected milling output is outputted for thispurpose in fourth block 54. The milling output can be, for example, adistance or area to be milled per unit time. The milling output can alsobe indicated by way of a volume to be milled or a mass to be milled. Inthe exemplifying embodiment shown, an expected wear on the milling toolsis also ascertained based on the material properties, and indicated infifth block 55. The wear can be indicated, for example, in the form of awear rate, for example a change in a bit length or bit volume per unittime, or also with reference to a milling work that has been carriedout. The latter would be, for example, a change in a bit length or bitvolume per milled mass, per milled volume, or per milled distance orarea. It is also conceivable to predict the number of tool changesrequired during the milling task that is to be planned. As a result,advantageously, the necessary spare parts for a construction site can befurnished. An expected working time span for carrying out the millingtask is preferably also ascertained, as provided for in sixth block 56.In accordance with seventh block 57, provision is advantageously made topredict an operating supplies consumption of road milling machine 10.With knowledge of these and, as applicable, further expected milling andconsumption data, optimized construction site planning can be effected.This relates on the one hand to the furnishing of requisite materials,in particular spare parts, operating supplies, and operatingauxiliaries. On the other hand, optimized time-related deploymentplanning for road milling machine 10 or several road milling machines 10can be accomplished based on the expected working time span and millingoutput. This is advantageous in particular when planning successivetasks at several working locations, since it is thereby possible to planan optimized construction site sequence and to reduce downtimes for roadmilling machine(s) 10.

FIG. 5 is a block depiction of individual method steps during a datacapture phase.

An “installation process data capture” branch 60 represents theascertaining and storage of material properties during the process ofinstalling a road 20. A layer structure 61, mix properties 62, andcompaction data 63 are conveyed to an “installation data capture” block64. A temperature 62.1 of the mix, as well as mix material properties62.2 of the mix itself or of the components of the mix, are taken intoconsideration in the indication of mix properties 62. The composition ofthe mix is preferably also incorporated in this context. The positiondata pertinent to the installation data are captured in a “position datacapture” block 65. The data from installation data capture block 64 andposition data capture block 65 are delivered to an “association” block66 and therein respectively to a “material properties” block 66.1 and toa “working sector” block 66.2. The data are then directed to memory 31.

For data capture during the installation process, layer structure 61,mix properties 62, compaction data 63, and the pertinent position datacan be captured from the road construction machine(s) being used, ortheir operators, and inputted manually into planning system 30 via inputunit 34 shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively thereto, provision can be madethat the data are read directly into planning system 30 from the roadconstruction machines via interface 30.1 shown in FIG. 3. The positiondata are furnished for this purpose preferably by a position detectionsystem, for example a GPS, arranged on the road construction machine. Itis also conceivable for an operator of the road construction machine tocapture and input its current position. The distance covered duringinstallation, and if applicable also the installation width, arecaptured electronically, with the result that regions having identicalmaterial properties can be defined very accurately. Spatially delimitedworking sectors within which the material properties of road 20 areidentical are created from the position data automatically by theplanning system or by input via input unit 34. The relevant materialproperties of road 20 are ascertained from the installation data of road20 collected in installation data capture data block 64, and areassociated in association block 66 with the working sectors defined bythe position data. The working sectors can be described by limitedgeographic coordinates or by designations of roads or road segments. Thematerial properties are ascertained from the installation datapreferably in computation unit 32 shown in FIG. 3. The working sectorsand the respectively pertinent material properties are then stored inmemory 31. Alternatively, it is possible for the installation data to beassociated with the working sectors and stored in memory 31. Theinstallation data then constitute characteristic values 40 correlatingwith the material properties of road 20.

In an embodiment, a “milling data capture” branch 70 has the capabilityof ascertaining the necessary material properties during a millingprocess. Milling data capture branch 70 encompasses a second positiondata capture block 71, a “manual input” block 72, and a secondassociation block 73 having a second working sector block 73.1 and asecond material properties block 73.2. Machine parameters 74 of roadmilling machine 10 are delivered to a “milling parameter capture” block75 and forwarded to second material properties block 73.2. In theexemplifying embodiment shown, a milling depth 74.1, a wear 74.2, anadvance 74.3, an operating supplies consumption 74.4, and a milling drumrotation speed 74.5 are provided as machine parameters 74.Alternatively, further machine parameters 74 influenced by the materialproperties of road 20 to be milled can be provided, for example a torquetransferred to the milling drum; or only some of machine parameters 74indicated, or an individual machine parameter 74, can be used.

In the context of performing a milling task, machine parameters 74specified by an operator, and those resulting therefrom, of a roadmilling machine 10 that is being used depend on the material propertiesof road 20 that is to be milled. With a comparatively hard road 20, forexample, a higher torque transferred to the milling drum will be neededin order to achieve a specified milling drum rotation speed 74.5, at aspecified milling depth 74.1 and a specified advance 74.3, than with aless hard road 20. The material properties of the milled road 20 canthus be ascertained in second material properties block 73.2 frommachine parameters 74 collected in milling parameter capture block 75.Machine parameters 74 can be transferred directly from road millingmachine 10 to planning system 30. Alternatively thereto, machineparameters 74 can be inputted in manual input block 72, for example viainput unit 34 shown in FIG. 3.

The necessary material properties, or characteristic values 40correlating therewith, can thus be captured both by data capture duringthe process of installing a road 20 and by data capture during initialmilling work on road 20, and associated with pertinent working sectors.These data can be stored in memory 31 and used for the subsequentplanning process.

It is also conceivable to capture the necessary material properties viaone or more measurements on road 20 or on the road segment. In allcases, the material properties and the pertinent position data can bemanually or automatically captured and manually or automaticallytransferred into planning system 30. It is also possible for positiondata to be captured automatically, and for an operator to input manuallythat spatially delimited region around the captured position data forwhich the material properties or characteristic values are relevant.

Planning system 30, and the underlying planning method, enable anaccurate prognosis of future road milling tasks at least in terms of theexpected milling output and expected wear. The prognosis preferablyproceeds from correctly adjusted machine parameters 74 during themilling procedure. Knowledge of this data makes possible optimized workorganization and construction site fulfillment. Planning system 30 canbe centrally arranged or can be provided locally on a road millingmachine 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating one or more road millingmachines, encompassing at least the following steps: specifying at leasttwo roads and/or road segments to be processed by milling; ascertainingat least one expected milling output of each of the one or more roadmilling machines for the roads and/or road segments to be processed,based on at least one of material properties or characteristic valuescorrelating with the material properties, wherein the materialproperties and/or characteristic values are associated with at least oneof road designations, designations of road segments, or geographiccoordinates as respectively pertinent to the roads and/or road segmentsto be processed; ascertaining and displaying a sequence, optimized atleast with regard to the at least one expected milling output, of theroads and/or road segments to be processed by milling.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising determining and displaying, onthe basis of the material properties and/or characteristic valuesassociated with the roads and/or road segments to be processed, one ormore values selected from a group comprising: a working time span; anoperating supplies consumption; a quantity of required consumable parts;a quantity of required operating supplies; and a quantity of requiredoperating auxiliaries.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein thesequence is further ascertained based on one or more values selectedfrom a group comprising: a working time span; an operating suppliesconsumption; a quantity of required consumable parts; a quantity ofrequired operating supplies; and a quantity of required operatingauxiliaries.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the materialproperties for the roads and/or road segments are determined from thecharacteristic values.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein thematerial properties associated with the roads and/or road segmentscomprise one or more of: an abrasiveness; a hardness; a material type; amaterial composition; a temperature; and/or a layer structure of theroad or road segment.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein atleast one machine parameter of each of the one or more road millingmachines which is obtained for processing of each of the roads and/orroad segments is determined as at least one of the characteristic valuescorrelating with the respective material properties.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the at least one machine parametercomprises a milling depth and/or an advance of the road milling machineand/or a milling drum rotation speed of a milling drum of the roadmilling machine and/or a torque transferred to the milling drum and/or adrive power transferred to the milling drum or an operating suppliesconsumption.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a wear that hasoccurred on at least one tool of the road milling machine in the contextof milling a specific area is taken into consideration in determiningthe material properties from the at least one machine parameter.
 9. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising capturing position dataof the road milling machine and associating the captured position datawith determined material properties and/or characteristic values. 10.The method according to claim 1, wherein the material properties and/orthe characteristic values correlating with the material properties aredetermined from a process of installing the road or road segment. 11.The method according to claim 1, wherein measured data ascertained witha measurement system are determined as characteristic values correlatingwith the material properties.
 12. The method according to claim 1,wherein transport times of the road milling machine between the roadsand/or road segments to be processed, and/or maintenance intervals ofthe road milling machine, are taken into consideration in thespecification of the sequence.
 13. The method according to claim 1,wherein a milled area and/or a milled volume and/or a milled mass and/ora milled distance, referred in each case to a time unit, is determinedas the at least one expected milling output.
 14. A planning system forcoordinating road milling tasks for one or more road milling machines,the planning system comprising: a memory networked with input and outputunits associated with the one or more road milling machines; and anon-transitory medium having a computer program product stored thereon,the program product executable by a computer to direct the performanceof: capturing and storing in the memory material properties of roadsand/or road segments, and/or characteristic values correlating with thematerial properties, in association with one or more of respectivelypertinent road designations, designations of road segments, orgeographic coordinates; specifying at least two roads and/or roadsegments to be processed by milling; ascertaining at least one expectedmilling output of each of the one or more road milling machines for theroads and/or road segments to be processed, based on the materialproperties and/or characteristic values associated with the roads orroad segments; ascertaining and outputting a sequence of the roadsand/or road segments to be processed by milling, optimized at least withregard to at least one of the at least one expected milling output orwear.
 15. The planning system according to claim 14, wherein the programproduct is further executable to determine and display, on the basis ofthe material properties and/or characteristic values associated with theroads and/or road segments to be processed, one or more values selectedfrom a group comprising: a working time span; an operating suppliesconsumption; a quantity of required consumable parts; a quantity ofrequired operating supplies; and a quantity of required operatingauxiliaries.
 16. The planning system according to claim 14, wherein thesequence is further ascertained based on one or more values selectedfrom a group comprising: a working time span; an operating suppliesconsumption; a quantity of required consumable parts; a quantity ofrequired operating supplies; and a quantity of required operatingauxiliaries.
 17. The planning system according to claim 14, wherein thedetermined material properties comprise one or more of: an abrasiveness;a hardness; a material type; a material composition; a temperature;and/or a layer structure of the road or road segment.
 18. The planningsystem according to claim 14, wherein at least one machine parameter ofeach of the one or more road milling machines which is obtained forprocessing of each of the roads and/or road segments is determined as atleast one of the characteristic values correlating with the respectivematerial properties.
 19. The planning system according to claim 18,wherein the at least one machine parameter comprises one or more of: amilling depth of the road milling machine; an advance of the roadmilling machine; a milling drum rotation speed of a milling drum of theroad milling machine; a torque transferred to the milling drum; a drivepower transferred to the milling drum; and/or an operating suppliesconsumption.
 20. The planning system according to claim 19, wherein awear that has occurred on at least one tool of the road milling machinein the context of milling a specific area is taken into consideration indetermining the material properties from the at least one machineparameter.
 21. The planning system according to claim 14, furthercomprising capturing position data of the one or more road millingmachines and associating the captured position data with the determinedmaterial properties and/or characteristic values.
 22. The planningsystem according to claim 14, wherein the material properties and/or thecharacteristic values correlating with the material properties aredetermined from the process of installing the road or road segment. 23.The planning system according to claim 14, wherein measured dataascertained with a measurement system are determined as characteristicvalues correlating with the material properties.
 24. The planning systemaccording to claim 14, wherein transport times of the one or more roadmilling machines between the roads and/or road segments to be processed,and/or maintenance intervals of the one or more road milling machines,are taken into consideration in the specification of the sequence ofroad milling tasks.
 25. The planning system according to claim 14,wherein a milled area and/or a milled volume and/or a milled mass and/ora milled distance, referred in each case to a time unit, is determinedas the at least one expected milling output.
 26. A method for operatingone or more road milling machines, encompassing at least the followingsteps: obtaining and storing in memory material properties of roadsand/or road segments, and/or characteristic values correlating with thematerial properties; associating the material properties and/orcharacteristic values with one or more of respectively pertinent roaddesignations, designations of road segments, or geographic coordinates;specifying at least two roads and/or road segments to be processed bymilling; requesting from memory the material properties and/orcharacteristic values associated with the roads and/or road segments tobe processed by milling; ascertaining at least one expected millingoutput of the road milling machine for the roads and/or road segments tobe processed, based on the associated material properties and/orcharacteristic values associated therewith; ascertaining and displayinga sequence of the roads and/or road segments to be processed by milling,optimized at least with regard to at least one of milling output orwear.